Concerns at Wychwood School, Oxford - seeking other families

I guess it depends what sort of school you are looking for. It’s niche so it won’t attract huge numbers. Lots of potential or existing Rye parents would be looking wouldn’t they? 90 attending? So parents and a Dc. So probably 30 Dc. 30x7 years would double the size of the school though.

@Frazzledfish I'm amazed you feel it's appropriate to say this: "Some just need time to sort themselves out and transition back to being girls" in the same post you are apparently "appalled" by the comments criticising the schools approach.

I'm appalled at all these messages about trans kids at the school and the supposed manipulation of sympathies. There are quite a lot of trans kids at Wychwood but this is because the school is a very welcoming, friendly and non-judgmental place. Trans children who had a miserable time at other schools find they are just left to be whatever they want to be at Wychwood. Some just need time to sort themselves out and transition back to being girls. Others find their new identities without being picked on or bullied and so flourish. I don't think this will change with the addition of boys because the ethos of the school is one of acceptance. My DD is totally unfazed by it all, and that is as it should be.

I think the very fact that over 90 attended on Saturday tells you that the school is certainly “on the up” - how many other schools can boast this number?

As Rye is now disappearing of course Wychwood is left as the go to small school. There no other choice. It’s still limited in what it can offer though in terms of breadth because it simply doesn’t have the numbers .

I'm puzzled by all the negative comments above and like another commentator I wonder if they are coming from people who actually know the school. The school is most definitely on the up - the recent open morning had over 90 interested families attending. There has been enormous investment in upgrading the facilities and there is a real vibe now at the school. It is true that the school was precarious a few years ago, but there has been a definite turnaround. DD is really happy there and excited about the future of the school. I think there is definitely a place for a school like Wychwood in Oxford providing small, friendly, individualised teaching and that welcomes children of all abilities. Not many boys for the moment but very likely to expand soon, while the ones who have been admitted this year, according to my DD, seem to be happy.

@TizerorFizz exactly I picked Rye for its pastoral care, individual focus etc. it's a lovely environment.

@jeaux90 With the other academic schools in and around Oxford, Rye would be foolish to pitch itself as an academic hothouse. Even Wycombe Abbey isn’t far away. In my view, Rye and Wychwood are trying to serve the same market so Wychwood is trying something different.

The thing is that the market for the tiny all girls school is very small.

A good friend had 2 DD’s at Knighton House - they were getting smaller and smaller so switched to co ed to try and boost numbers - ultimately that wasn’t enough and they ended up being “incorporated” into Bryanston. The parents were all assured that the Knighton House ethos would remain, including the name, but it was all gone within 12 months.

@KleineDracheKokosnuss my experience of Rye is that it's very individual focussed. It's not an academic hothouse though.

At small schools like these, the very able will be a small group. Clearly other schools in Oxford will have greater depth of academically able Dc. So it really depends what you want. You don’t always need loads of bright Dc to work with: just enough.

@jeaux90 how is Rye for the academically very able?

I thought this too

And reading the last isi inspection, if this had been a state school it would have been inadequate due to not recording safeguarding info to meet regulations. Isi are, of course, a soft touch. Plus perception is everything. It’s non parents who decide to use a school in the first place. With 103 pupils in 2015 and not many more now, it’s hardly thriving. It’s surviving.

@laporoch It was listed as having 108 pupils last time I looked with a capacity of 165. So even if lots start, it’s under subscribed. No getting away from that and to get the numbers up they need the boys.

@Mikimoto no, DD is entering year 10 same one since she joined year 7. New one just starting now but she was head of a school that won awards for boarding so I'm really pleased. Current head has been great though.

Aren't Rye about to have their 5th Head in 4 years?

I find it very sad that people who do not know my daughter’s school and the excellent ISI outcome plus all the amazing work being put into this lovely school have the audacity to comment so detrimentally. The Head has worked tirelessly with parents, staff and particularly the pupils since starting last year.

I find it all very strange too. I am a parent too and can’t wait to see the improvements done over the summer.

I don’t actually think the people commenting are parents at the school.

All these comments are very strange indeed. I have been informed the school had an amazing ISI inspection at the end of the summer and has been approved to expand its pupil capacity. In terms of neuro diversity, on quick check it is trending to the same (or less) ratio's as Rye St Antony, Bloxham, Cokethorpe, OLA ... There is also an immense amount of investment into the school this summer to enhance the facilities, including a new sixth form space, wellness hub, IT suite etc. As a parent in the school, we are extremely happy, it is certainly not 'woefully undersubscribed' .. in fact there is a distinct buzz

Somerset Gazette has the answers. Cannot see any skeletons.

trying to do some research on JE.
On Linked in, it doesn't say what she did between graduating and 2015.
Can someone DM me please?

@thegoodlife88 and @Wonderingwillfully

Are you able to share any more on this with me?

@Newme2016 I’m surprised by your comments as well. ND pupils are not less than other pupils (sounds like you are saying well there are some everywhere so can’t be avoided) or there as a learning experience for your children. They are just as valuable members of the school community on their own terms and have so much to offer. Your comments reek of ableism.

@Newme2016 In later life, DC are more able to make informed opinions. When they are young, they don’t have the experience to do this and can be influenced by all sorts of inaccuracies. Girls really do survive in adult life when they meet other people! They meet poor people too, and ones with different views on all sorts of things. Not just privileged Wychwood ones.

This was a school for girls. It’s taking up a new marketing position which has alarmed some parents. It’s woefully undersubscribed, as Bruton was. It’s on a valuable site. Bruton was all guns blazing with a new head too only 3 years ago.